Lodewijks impressed with goalkeeping competition at Everton

Goalkeeping coach Patrick Lodewijks is convinced competition for Everton’s number one jersey between Joel Robles and Maarten Stekelenburg is driving up standards at the club.

Lodewijks, who joined the Merseyside club from Feyenoord in the summer, has been impressed with the performances of both Robles and Stekelenburg and believes Everton is in the unusual position of having two first-choice stoppers.

Stekelenburg was first given the role at the beginning of the season but after the 34-year-old Dutchman suffered a dead leg in the Merseyside derby back in December, Robles has seized his opportunity with both hands.

“For me, it’s rather unique to have two goalkeepers who are, in my opinion, very close,” Lodewijks said.

“Sometimes you have a real first-choice goalkeeper and a second goalkeeper, who is good enough to play – but when the first goalkeeper is fit again then there is no question about who is going to play.

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“It is a situation that I like. It gives competition and you need that, because if you don’t have competition then maybe you can get lazy because you know you are going to play.

“You have to show the team, the coach and myself that you want to be the best every day – and it needs to be every day otherwise the other goalkeeper will overtake you.

“It is also important to be good colleagues, which they are. As I said on my first day here, I want competition but I also demand you are good colleagues because we are a separate part of the team as goalkeepers.

“We need each other and we need to stick together.”